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Minor Notes: Tolvanen, Legwand, Hughes

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Nashville Predators’ fans, prepared to get excited. Eeli Tolvanen, the 30th-overall pick in this year’s draft made his KHL debut today playing for Jokerit and what a debut it was. The 18-year old forward scored a hat trick and added an assist in just over 13 and a half minutes of ice time as they took down Dinamo Minsk 6-1 in their first game. While obviously it will be impossible for Tolvanen to continue this pace, he becomes the youngest player in KHL history to record a hat trick.

After being denied admission to Boston College for failing to meet the school’s academic requirements, Tolvanen almost tumbled out of the first round before signing a one-year deal (plus a 2018-19 option) with Jokerit. The 5’10” 170-lbs forward lit up the USHL in his draft year and possesses one of the quickest releases of any prospect in his draft class. It will be interesting to see where he spends next season, after a campaign that’s off to an incredible start.

  • David Legwand will step behind the bench of the Sarnia Sting, an OHL franchise he is part owner of. The long time Nashville Predators’ forward will take an Associate Coach position with the team just over a year removed from his playing career. Legwand was an excellent player in his day, recording 618 points in 1,136 games over a 17-year NHL career. He’ll now join head coach Derian Hatcher in trying to turn the Sting around after a disappointing 2016-17 season. He’ll have to hope that Jordan Kyrou doesn’t make the St. Louis Blues out of camp, as he looked ready to take the next step towards professional hockey in the World Junior Summer Showcase. If Kyrou returns to the Sting, he could be in contention to lead the league in points after coming in sixth last year.
  • The Hershey Bears have signed Tommy Hughes to an AHL contract, bringing in the former Hartford Wolf Pack defender for one season. Hughes was signed by the New York Rangers organization as a CHL free agent in 2013, but never saw action in the NHL. The 25-year old is about as stay-at-home as you can get in a defenseman, recording just 30 points over his four-year AHL career.
  • Chris Terreri has joined the New York Islanders organization as a Goaltending Development Coach, and will also serve as Goalie Coach for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the AHL. Terreri had previously been with the New Jersey Devils for sixteen years. While the Islanders have struggled to find consistency in their NHL netminders the past few seasons, they do have some of the most interesting prospects in the league in Ilya Sorokin and Linus Soderstrom. If either come over to North America in the next few seasons, Terreri will be tasked with unlocking their full potential.

More Russian Talent On Maple Leafs’ Radar

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The Toronto Maple Leafs clearly think there is unmined talent in the KHL. In consecutive drafts they’ve selected players that seemed “off the board”—Yegor Korshkov and Nikolai Chebykin in 2016 and Vladislav Kara in the most recent draft—and signed Nikita Zaitsev away from CSKA Moscow last summer. Zaitsev showed he could be a solid NHL contributor in his first year, and signed a seven-year, $31.5MM extension exactly a year later.

So now, when reports surfaced that both Mike Babcock and Lou Lamoriello traveled to Russia to meet with CSKA defenseman Igor Ozhiganov people take notice. The report appeared on Sovsport, before the Maple Leafs confirmed that Babcock and Lamoriello were in the country to various outlets (but not that they’d met with the defenseman). The pair completed a similar recruitment meeting with Zaitsev a year before he signed in the NHL, which could suggest the same is about to happen with Ozhiganov.

The 24-year old’s contract ends with CSKA in April, and he’s already played parts of seven years in the Russian professional league. The 6’2″ 216-lbs defender is not as offensive as Zaitsev (although he does have highlights like this), but comes with considerable defensive acumen and is also right-handed. For the Maple Leafs, who are looking everywhere to improve their defense corps, Russia seems like fertile land.

Early Notes: Iginla, Doan, Polak

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Hockey Canada once again told the Canadian Press that they would consider veteran options like Shane Doan and Jarome Iginla for their upcoming Winter Olympic squad, but reiterated that the pair would need to be playing somewhere to make the team. Because of the high-level still expected even in the absence of NHL stars, Team Canada GM Sean Burke won’t be taking players off the couch to Pyeongchang. Doan and Iginla are still trying to find work around the NHL, but could play for a few months in Europe or the KHL if they want to suit up for the Olympics. Both have experience there before and would lend some star power to the team. Whether they’re better than the AHL or college forwards that they would replace is still uncertain.

  • Roman Polak is skating again and agent Allan Walsh told the Toronto Sun that he expects his client to sign with an NHL team very soon. Polak is working his way back from a broken fibula but looked fine in the video posted yesterday of his skating drills. The 31-year old was seen in Maple Leafs gear, but it’s unclear if Toronto would have any interest in a return. With the free agent market fairly devoid of defensive talent, Polak could be snapped up as soon as he’s medically cleared.
  • Another former Maple Leafs player Matt Frattin has signed with Barys Astana of the KHL. The contract covers just one year for the veteran AHLer, and will be the first time he plays outside of North America. Last year for the Stockton Heat Frattin put up 36 points in 54 games, a pace he’s shown for several years in the minor leagues. Armed with a hard shot and power game, Frattin was never able to establish himself as a full-time NHL player, and will try to prove that he can be a valuable forward at a high level. He’ll have someone familiar in the lineup, as former Stockton teammate Linden Vey also signed with Astana this offseason.

Potential Trouble With Andreas Athanasiou Contract Talks

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7:35pm: Craig Custance of The Athletic confirmed with Athanasiou’s agent that he indeed has been offered a one-year contract from a KHL team and is considering it.

5:31pm: The Detroit Red Wings have one restricted free agent left to sign in Andreas Athanasiou, but according to Rick Dhaliwal of News 1130 in Vancouver, those talks might not be going so well. Dhaliwal reports that there is a possibility Athanasiou signs in the KHL instead, as negotiations are “going nowhere.” Obviously, these kind of threats are often leaked to the media in order to create leverage but it is interesting that there has been little said from either side on their negotiations throughout the summer. Athanasiou was not arbitration eligible, and is coming off a breakout 18-goal season.

Andreas AthanasiouIronically, having Athanasiou sign in Russia could actually help the Red Wings in the short term, as the club is pressed right against the cap for the upcoming season. While they have potential savings in the form of Johan Franzen’s incoming LTIR placement, an Athanasiou contract would force them to make a different move. If he signed in Russia, his rights would be maintained without a cap hit.

The 23-year old forward played 64 games for the Red Wings this year, recording 29 points and showing off his elite speed to create offensive chances out of relatively innocuous looking rushes. That dynamic ability makes him a valuable asset, but there were also some warts to his game. Whenever he was given the chance to play center he performed poorly on the defensive side of the game, and there were clashes with head coach Jeff Blashill at times over his competitiveness.

It has to be said that there is still plenty of time to work out a contract before the season starts, and that things can change easily at any time. Still, if Athanasiou ever decides to look elsewhere for a playing opportunity, it would come with a likely roster spot with Team Canada at the Olympics. There would also be plenty of interest in the KHL and European leagues for a player of his caliber, giving him some leverage in his negotiations.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Snapshots: Demers, Upshall, McDavid

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Various players were in Toronto today for the BioSteel Camp, which gave savvy media members a chance to talk to them individually and away from the normal post-game scrum. One of them, Luke Fox of Sportsnet, caught up with Florida Panthers defenseman Jason Demers and asked about the report from earlier this summer that he blocked a trade to the Vancouver Canucks. Demers definitely didn’t deny the report, saying that Pierre LeBrun of TSN has “got his sources.”

Regardless, Demers is still playing in Florida this season and is getting ready to try and bounce back from what was a disappointing year. The right-handed defenseman was one of the best two-way options on the open market in 2016 when the Panthers snatched him up for five years and $22.5MM but scored just 28 points and wasn’t as effective in his own end. It will be interesting to see if he becomes available once again if the Panthers get off to a bad start, or if the right deal comes along to pry him out of Florida. His no-trade clause covers just eight teams around the league.

  • Scottie Upshall is waiting for another NHL opportunity after scoring 18 points last season for the St. Louis Blues, and he told John Matisz of Postmedia that he already has offers from the KHL and Europe in hand. Upshall, like James Wisniewski earlier today, still believes he can help an NHL team, but is also excited about the possibility of playing in the Olympics should he be playing in a European league come February. Upshall never did reach the high potential he showed to be selected sixth overall, but has been a solid contributor and fan favorite for nearly 700 games. Only 33-years old, he could be in for a professional tryout like in 2015 when he ended up signing with the Blues on October 5th.
  • Of course, no media day would be complete without talking to the reigning league MVP Connor McDavid, and Kristen Shilton of TSN asked him several questions at the BioSteel camp. When asked about being called the best player in the league, McDavid immediately deflected the praise to Sidney Crosby, saying that “at the end of the day everyone knows who the best player in the league is, and it’s not me.” Many fans would disagree with that, but McDavid went on to say that he wants to work on the things that make Crosby so dangerous, namely scoring from in tight and on deflections. Edmonton Oilers fans will be happy to hear that the $100MM contract he signed hasn’t made McDavid rest on his laurels, and that he’s working to come back even stronger next season.

James Wisniewski Latest To Be Linked To Olympic Roster

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Since the NHL isn’t allowing players to go to the 2018 Winter Olympics, the rosters for both North American squads remain something of a mystery. While Team Canada has been preparing their group by playing in various international tournaments, USA Hockey is opting for a different approach that will likely make it tougher to project a roster until closer to the event.

This morning we heard about some of the top NCAA names that are being considered, and now Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports that unsigned free agent defenseman James Wisniewski has also been in contact with the management team. This piece of information comes in an excellent profile of the former Columbus Blue Jackets defender (subscription needed, but well worth it), which also has him waiting for a training camp invite this summer.

Last year Wisniewski had to go play in the KHL after not earning an NHL contract in training camp with the Tampa Bay Lightning, and could have to play abroad once again. The 33-year old is just a few seasons removed from his career-high 51 point output and is right-handed, but still can’t seem to find work anywhere around the league. Perhaps he’ll be able to use the Olympics as a springboard for a return to the NHL.

Snapshots: Jagr, Keenan, Team USA

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Jaromir Jagr remains unsigned now deep into August, and though the second all-time leading NHL scorer wants to play again this year there hasn’t been a ton of interest just yet. Elliotte Friedman joined NHL Network yesterday and said that a few teams have reached out, including the Calgary Flames. The Flames are led by a former Jagr coach in Glen Gulutzan, but nothing sounds imminent with any team so far.

Jagr has joked about playing for his own Czech club to start the year, and that would allow him to play in the Olympics. The Czech Republic have several players in this situation, but could see some late-summer signings rob them of Olympic talent.

  • Kunlun Red Star of the KHL have fired their General Manager just a few months after installing him in March, and have given the reins to Mike Keenan who will remain on as head coach as well. Keenan is a legendary NHL and KHL coach who made big waves after going to China, and will now have full control of the organization.
  • Andy Strickland of Fox Sports reports that USA Hockey is considering Troy Terry, Jordan Greenway, Ryan Donato and Adam Fox for their Olympic team, which comes as little surprise. The quartet of college players are all outstanding options that could likely find great success on the international circuit. Greenway already represented the US at the recent World Championships, while Donato, Fox and Terry were among the best college players in the country last season.

Nikolai Belov To Attend Florida Panthers’ Training Camp

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The Florida Panthers will have some international flair to their defense corps in camp this year, as George Richards of the Miami Herald reports Nikolai Belov will be there on a tryout. Belov has played his entire career in the KHL up to this point.

The Panthers had already added Evgeny Dadonov to their team this offseason, signing the Russian sniper away from SKA St. Petersburg to a three-year deal. Perhaps he was influential in bringing Belov over, since the two won a Gagarin Cup together in 2015. Belov, 30, is a stay-at-home defender who uses his reach to disrupt passing lanes and could provide some depth to the Panthers defense corps. The group is currently counting on players like Ian McCoshen and MacKenzie Weegar to provide that depth, a role that’s perhaps not as well suited to their relative youth.

Belov scored a career-high 15 points last season with Chelyabinsk, but shouldn’t be relied upon for any offensive contributions at the NHL level. For a team trying to get back to the playoffs however, his experience and responsible play could be an asset.

Nikita Zadorov, Colorado Avalanche Still Working On Contract

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Though there has been plenty of rumors that Nikita Zadorov had already agreed upon a contract with the Colorado Avalanche, nothing had yet been announced by the club. Mike Chambers of the Denver Post finally got GM Joe Sakic to sit down and talk about it, and he explained that the contract length has been decided but they are still working on salary.

Both sides agreed to a two-year deal and we just have to figure out the numbers. We’ve got our NHL comps that we’re going with and he’s got to make a decision at some point on what he wants to do.

Zadorov has a contract offer in hand from the KHL, but has been clear that he’d like to stay in the NHL if possible. With Sakic taking a hard stance on salary though, that may have to change. The 22-year old defenseman is a restricted free agent and has little leverage if he stays in North America, as the Avalanche are more worried about slowly building their youth movement than competing in the short term. A holdout by Zadorov wouldn’t hurt a playoff run, for instance.

Even though Zadorov was a big part of the Ryan O’Reilly trade, he hasn’t yet turned into the shutdown defender the Avalanche had hoped for. While his big hits make highlight reels on the regular, he recorded just 10 points last season and has been generally just average in his own end. It’s clear that Sakic has a set number that he’ll pay, and is willing to endure threats of a KHL departure.

Sakic also mentions Matt Duchene, and the continuing possibility of a trade. Duchene is expected currently to join the team at training camp but Sakic “will be listening to offers.” Recently, Darren Dreger of TSN said that pushing Duchene back into the Colorado dressing room could be a mistake after the public availability this summer, but it doesn’t sound like Sakic’s ask has softened any. If he’s still looking for a blockbuster return for Duchene, he might have to start the year with the squad and wait for a desperate team to come forth later in the year.

Alexey Marchenko Heads To KHL, Wants NHL Return Eventually

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Yesterday Alexey Marchenko was placed on unconditional waivers by the Toronto Maple Leafs ahead of a mutual contract termination, with many suspecting he’d return to the KHL for the upcoming season. That has been confirmed by his agent Dan Milstein, who also reports that Marchenko would like to return to the NHL at some point in the future. Milstein didn’t confirm which team Marchenko would play for, though it’s widely believed that CSKA Moscow will be his destination. Igor Eronko of Sport-Express reports that it will be a three-year deal. The Maple Leafs will gain a contract slot and $1.45MM in cap space for this season, the same amount Marchenko was due in the final year of his contract.

Both the cap space and contract slot are huge assets for the Maple Leafs, who remain over the $75MM salary cap and now have 48/50 players under contract. That’s not including Connor Brown, who is a restricted free agent but expected to sign before the start of training camp. Brown and Maple Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello have expressed no concern over negotiations, and likely wer waiting for transactions like this in order to free up some room.

The Maple Leafs could also now be players in NCAA free agency tomorrow, when Will Butcher and Alex Kerfoot will headline a group of players that also includes former Toronto draft pick Dominic Toninato. Toninato has said that there wasn’t room for him in Toronto in the past, which could have just changed with the termination of Marchenko. Still, Ted Kulfan of the Detroit News listed the Maple Leafs as a possible destination for Butcher, though another left-handed defenseman seems unlikely for a team already loaded with them.

A final possibility is now free agency for the Maple Leafs, as they previously couldn’t have added another player without risking their not being room for Brown to sign. With several useful names still out there, the upstart Toronto team could add some more veteran presence to one of the youngest squads in the league.

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